Age visa/work permit

Hi Everyone,
I am a qualified TEFL teacher with heaps of experience. However, as I am 67, I need to know if this is going to be a problem when applying for a visa or work permit.

Thanks in advance
G
-@gordonkitwe58

Hello gordonkitwe58. Welcome to expat.com, and thank you for your first post!

There is no age restriction pertaining to visas and/or work permits in Vietnam. However, there have been reports of some degree of age discrimination shown by employers in their preference for "young(ish)" teachers. Considering the dearth of qualified English teachers here of late, this would probably not be too much of a concern.

You mentioned "...applying for a visa or work permit." I'm not sure whether you are aware of this, but the application for a work permit is made by the employer, not by the employee (the foreigner).

Please feel free to ask any additional questions which you might have. Many helpful folk here at expat.com.

Again, welcome aboard.

Thank you Aidan....that is most reassuring and also thanks for work permit info.

I will probably have loads of questions to ask as time gets closer to departure so thanks in advance to yourself and anyone else who can help.

Best

G

@gordonkitwe58

Hi Gordon,

I am more or less in the same boat. It will be interesting to see how we get on

Good news from Aidan above re "dearth of teachers"

I can understand the "age discrimination" bit also.

I guess if i had a school in Vnam, i'd prefer a 26 yr old woke, blonde, ass kicking American woman on my teaching staff than .. well, me  😀

On the same subject, I imagine teaching work will be easier to come by in the bigger cities - Hanoi, Saigon etc

But I wonder if same is true for eg Da Nang - still a big city (pop 1.5 mill approx) and a far more manageable size than either Hanoi, HCM. 

It also has a beach .. and youre less likely to get run over by a murder bike on the pavement leaving a restaurant after a bowl of Pho

I got hired to teach in Vietnam in the year I turned 63, I worked in HCMC until the year I turned 65. Nobody made any noises like I would have to leave/stop teaching at a particular age. I could have stayed on, but chose to go back to the US and officially retire. That did not work out and I ended up working there until I was 69 and 1/2 years old.

China is more rigid about not giving out visas to teachers over 65 years old. My sense is that VN schools -- and their allies in the gov't -- like older folks with lots of experience (and credentials and education to match).

Good luck.

Many thanks, Lennerd

It is reassuring to hear

@John123470

Might be a tad easier in smaller cities that are desperate. Out of desperation they may pay you more. On the other hand, they might not have much of a budget.

Thanks Olowao

I thought from my reading of Da Nang that it gets good press as a city to live in

A pop of 1.5 mill people seems sizeable enough also. 

And the place has lass frantic traffic but yes, it can go either way with pay I guess

@John123470

No problem John. I've lived in Asia for almost 18 years, I've had unquestionably more success in 2nd and 3rd tier cities. Might be the way to go.

@Lennerd I've found the govn in the provinces does like older teachers and also adult students actually like the teacher to be older than the student but most schools haven't figured that out yet as they are still after the younger teacher.

@plegrove

Absolutely. My long two cents:

I'm Black American, 50 years old. And like the rest of you, I've lived a little. I understand the brand aspect of having young white teachers. it's a business....for profit.

That said, to not have older Whites and non-Whites on staff as well is not only limiting but absurd - particularly when it's obvious they are skilled and experienced.

In my travels, I've come to the conclusion that it's not the students. Especially if you're Black American. The kids think you know who killed Tupac, you have Lebron James on speed dial and you dated Beyonce before Jay Z. 😁. They literally hang on your every word due to this.

And, although a case can be made that most Asian parents subscribe to that philosophy, (understandably so, parents want the best for their kids, not to mention education being pricey) a number of them are practical thinking and would prefer the individual that brings the most to the table. One thing I have noticed over the years is many parents and teachers do not know what a good foreign teacher is or what a native speaker sounds like or basic grammar for that matter. So, the only recourse left is to look at skin color.

Ultimately, it's the schools and language centers that enforce and perpetuate this sort of discrimination/racism. And, like American businesses in the 50s, they will not change until it benefits them to do so.

@plegrove

It sounds more promising, Plegrove - ol timers can still work it seems

When you say "the Provinces", do you have any particular places in mind - or do you just mean small provincial towns in general ?

Thanks

Small provincial towns generally speaking. Haven't been in Nam long so I can't really specify where.

Living all over Asia for close to 20 years, I'm guessing this particular dynamic is the same throughout.

Well, I'm 66, and already have teaching maths and science experience in Vietnam.  I am in the Philippines now, so it's not a major trip to return.

But, I cannot get anyone to answer me. I can only guess they prefer young models that sort of know how to teach. Teaching experience is less important than looks and teaching skill.

Hi Ebxebx,

You say you already had experience teaching in Vietnam

So, I don't understand what you mean re not getting anyone to answer you ?

I mean you already know the scene and have contacts there ?

Also, I believe that physically presenting oneself is better than remote application.  I mean they will not know what to expect

If you are physically fit, compos mentis,  (good looking 😂) .. what can possibly go wrong

...what can possibly go wrong
-@John123470

Don't get everyone started... 😉

"Welcome to Việt Nam! Leave your foreign logic behind..."